QR codes in product catalogues
A print catalogue is still one of the best-performing sales tools for many retailers and B2B suppliers, but it has two weaknesses: it can't show stock levels, and ordering means typing a product code into a website. A QR code next to each product, or each spread, fixes both.
Catalogues are big print runs with long lives, so codes should be dynamic. A product page URL that changes next month, or a product that sells out, shouldn't break a catalogue that will sit on desks until next season.
What to link from QR codes on catalogues
Buy this product
A small code by each product that opens its page with stock, sizes and reviews.
See it in use
Videos, 360° views or galleries for products that photograph poorly on paper.
Trade and B2B ordering
Codes that open the reorder page for account customers, with the product already selected by the link.
Request a quote
A form for custom orders or bulk pricing on the last page.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
Dynamic code per product or spread
Repoint discontinued items to their replacements, and see which products readers scan. Create them in bulk through the API.
Create a dynamic codeImage gallery
A grid of photos with a full-screen viewer.
A gallery of extra product shots, colours or finishes.
Build it in the dashboardFeedback and forms page
Star ratings, NPS and questions, with responses collected in your dashboard.
Quote requests with text, email and choice fields, collected in your dashboard.
Build it in the dashboardHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue held in the hand | 25 cm (10 in) | 2.9 cm (1.1 in) |
| Catalogue on a desk | 35 cm (14 in) | 4.1 cm (1.6 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Per-product codes can be small, about 2.5 to 3 cm, if they sit on white space beside the product photo.
- Generate codes in bulk from your product list so each item has its own code and analytics.
- Keep codes in the same position relative to each product so readers find them without searching.
- Print a product number next to the code for people ordering by phone.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Scan to buy
- See it in 360°
- Reorder in one scan
- Request a bulk quote
QR codes on catalogues: FAQ
Should every product in a catalogue have its own QR code?
If space allows, yes. Per-product codes go straight to the right page and tell you which products readers looked up. If space is tight, one code per spread that opens a page listing those products works too.
How do I create hundreds of QR codes for a catalogue?
Use the bulk generator for static codes from a CSV, or the QRdx REST API to create dynamic codes in bulk on a paid plan. Export each as SVG for the layout.
What happens when a product is discontinued?
With a dynamic code, point it at the replacement product or the category page. The printed catalogue keeps working.